Most of the messengers I knew when I was in it had more than one kind of bike, and everyone mostly used a variety on the road. I preferred the SS myself, and still do in urban core traffic. The reason so many kids/hipsters have co-opt'd the messenger thing is that's the subculture they see ripping through traffic, as opposed to track racers. Maybe some of them will make to a velodrome and that can only make the sport better. Think of skateboards in the 80's and where that industry has gone to. We may just see a resurgence of North American track racing in the near future and you just might be able to thank the messengers for it. I know we're all looking forward to the new velodrome(s) that's to be build in Hamilton(near Toronto) for the Pan-Americans in 2015.

When I rode with a Pro-Tour rider on a training ride, he couldn't believe what messengers do on a day in and day out basis, nor some of the weather we rode in. Cars scared the willies of him. There's respect enough to go all round.